A story of two men drag-racing across the United States in a primer grey '55 Chevy. Dennis Wilson is the mechanic, James Taylor is the driver.
What makes this film notable, first of all, is the cast. As pointed out, the men with the car are two well-known musicians, not actors. In fact, they never acted before or since. This may make the film feel a bit more real. (It also helps us picture what it would be like for Taylor and Wilson to hang out.) This is an open road movie, a car movie. Some say it is boring and some say it is not a great car movie, as the cars do not get nearly the focus you might expect for a drag-racing picture. I see that, but I also see a vast world here that could exist in 1971 but certainly could not exist today (2016). Whatever may be lost is made up for.
What makes this film notable, first of all, is the cast. As pointed out, the men with the car are two well-known musicians, not actors. In fact, they never acted before or since. This may make the film feel a bit more real. (It also helps us picture what it would be like for Taylor and Wilson to hang out.) This is an open road movie, a car movie. Some say it is boring and some say it is not a great car movie, as the cars do not get nearly the focus you might expect for a drag-racing picture. I see that, but I also see a vast world here that could exist in 1971 but certainly could not exist today (2016). Whatever may be lost is made up for.